News and Press Releases

IDAHO FALLS — Ridgeline Energy LLC and BP Wind Energy announced Tuesday that they are starting work on what will be the largest wind facility in Idaho.

The companies are working together to build the Goshen North wind farm, which will include 83 wind turbine generators. It will be located on 11,000 acres roughly 10 miles east of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County.

Officials say they are in the process of mobilizing the construction site and plan to complete the project by the end of the year.

“When operational this wind farm has the potential to deliver over 380 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity every year,” said John Graham, president of BP Wind Energy. “The investment that BP and Ridgeline Energy are making will create new jobs during construction, deliver an additional revenue stream to rural communities without impacting traditional farming and ranching, and provide clean, affordable power.”

Mortenson Construction is handling most of the construction that will require up to 250 workers, officials said.

When completed the wind farm will produce enough electricity to power 37,000 homes; Southern California Edison has already agreed to purchase the power generated, officials said.

The companies already have 44 wind turbine generators in the area, most of which are located in Bonneville County with 10 in Bingham County, said Steve Serr, Bonneville’s planning and zoning administrator. The new generators will be located north of those already in place.

POCATELLO — Standing in her living room, Kathy Morter points to her intricately laid wooden floor.

Morter, who lives at 907 W. Center St., said her living room floor used to be carpeted. The wood was installed after her husband, Glenn Harvey, moved into their home about 22 years ago.

Such rehabilitation projects are commonplace among the homeowners in the historic neighborhood in which Morter lives, and they haven’t gone unnoticed. In fact, the Gate City’s West Side was recently recognized by This Old House magazine as one of the 51 best old neighborhoods in the U.S. and Canada.

This Old House, which focuses on home improvement and remodeling, based its selections on architectural diversity, craftsmanship of the homes and the preservation efforts in the area, among other criteria. The publication selected one historic neighborhood for each U.S. state and Canada.

Other restorations to Morter’s home were done on her porch. For example, she and Harvey re-installed three columns that formerly stood in the corner of her porch. She said the house had the columns when it was built during the early 1900s, but adds that those distinctive structures were later removed and replaced with one metal column.

They had one metal column that went down from the roof to the floor,” she said, “and it really looked ugly.”

Harvey has been involved in multiple West Side neighborhood rehabilitation projects, but nowhere has his work done more to bring back the past than in his own home.

“When Glenn first saw this, he knew the moment he walked in that he wanted it,” Morter said. “He saw what it could look like if he returned it to its original (design).”

Other criteria that This Old House used to select its best old neighborhoods included walkability, safety and community.

Joni Bateman, who lives at 856 W. Center St., notices the differences between West Side and some of the other neighborhoods in Pocatello. She moved to her home in West Pocatello about five years ago after spending about 14 years on the east side of town.

“It’s like being in an absolutely different part of town,” she said. “We love being within walking distances of Old Town. It’s very diverse, and we often have neighborhood parties during the summer.”

While preservation efforts have succeeded in sustaining original architecture, Bateman believe the houses in West Pocatello have even more durability than some of the new homes being built throughout the city.

“All the homes built before the 1950s had solid wood floors,” she said. “They’re very solidly built with craftsmanship.”

February 20, 2010

The group meets every second Thursday of each month in the City of Pocatello building at 911 N. Seventh Ave. Please come so we can help our local business community to succeed.

The award is given to a school administrator who has exhibited leadership in supporting and implementing
technology appropriately to enhance the education of children and the educational environment.Vagner was nominated by Ellis Elementary School Principal Dr. Betsy Goeltz.

Vagner is recognized statewide for promoting appropriate technology to meet the district’s mission to maximize learning for all students. She understands and embraces the benefits of 21st-century technology to support student learning, enhance instruction and involve parents, Goeltz said.

Goeltz specifically named Vagner’s leadership in three district technology projects: Implementation of a new student information management system, implementation of a crisis management system and The Festival of Trees fundraiser to support the purchase and installation of interactive white board technology.

“During a very challenging financial time for all school districts, Mrs. Vagner has managed to stay focused on the technology needs of students, parents and faculty,” said Goeltz. “She does whatever it takes to ensure our district provides 21st-century learning.”

February 6, 2010

Tom Maydew is the regional director for the Idaho State University Small Business Development Center located at 1651 Alvin Ricken Drive in Pocatello. He can be reached at 208-232-4921.

Afew months back several area small business owners contacted former Mayor Roger Chase looking for help with a serious problem — sales and profits were declining to the point that the businesses were facing closing their doors for good. The mayor sugowners come together to study the situation and come up with solutions. The Business Resource Group was born.

With assistance from the mayor’s office, the first meeting was scheduled. Attendees included many small
business and agency owners and representatives from the Small Business Development Center, Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce, ISU Workforce Training, Old Town Pocatello, and the Bannock Development Corporation.

The group spent a great deal of time over the next few meetings discussing the cause and effect of the problem.Everyone was aware of the tough economic times facing the entire nation, but we decided the situation ran deeper than that for our local business community. Plain and simple, Pocatello and Chubbuck merchants are losing revenues and profits because of continued leakage to the Idaho Falls and Salt Lake City markets and to Internet sales.

So what can be done to keep people shopping locally? The first step is for all Pocatello and Chubbuck businesses to look in the mirror. What causes our local shoppers to stray? Could it be lack of product and service selection, spotty customer service, unattractive and unkempt store appearances, the lack of a solid marketing strategy, or poor merchandising group agreed that many area businesses are simply too casual in their attempts to keep our shoppers at home.

The group has come up with several possible solutions. First, area businesses must clean up their act and stop assuming area shoppers will blindly accept substandard business practices. We have to earn the local shopper’s trust, respect, and their business through consistent effort. We have to provide the buying public with the goods and services they want, stand behind our products, train and motivate our employees to provide exceptional customer service, keep our shops clean and well maintained, communicate with customers to assess their needs, and let consumers know what we offer through an effective marketing campaign.

The perception of many consumers in our area is “we can’t find it in Pocatello or Chubbuck”. Many times that
claim is untrue, but perception is reality. To overcome this, the group is focused on creating a Web site to allow every business in our area to list their contact information and a comprehensive list of the goods and services they provide.

The Business Resource Group is a grassroots effort. To be successful in the long term we need every business to participate. The changes won’t be immediate and will happen over time, but the success of the movement will require hard work and a long-term commitment toward improvement. Consumers must come to understand what is at stake and how shopping outside our area hurts us all. Let’s rededicate ourselves to “Shop Local, Buy Local, and Be Local”.

February 10, 2010

POCATELLO — The City Council has entered into a professional services agreement with Roger Chase that will utilize the former mayor’s expertise on water and land use issues.

Councilman Craig Cooper was the lone council member to vote against the oneyear consulting contract, which will pay Chase $1,500 a month. Chase, as the owner of Clearview Consulting, will assist the city on water rights acquisition issues.

He will also assist the city with issues at the Pocatello Airport associated with new land use ordinances the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are proposing.

The consulting agreement, which is being finalized by the city’s legal department, will include a termination provision that will enable either party to end the contract with 30 days notice.

Cooper said he wasn’t happy with the consulting agreement because he didn’t see any advantage for the city in it. Cooper said he felt the water issues the city is facing require more expertise than Chase has.

“I don’t see what Roger can bring to the city as a consultant,” Cooper said. “I just don’t see any advantage to it, quite frankly. If I feel strongly against something, I’m not going to vote for it.” The six-member council discussed the agreement at length during a regular study session Jan. 14. They voted 5-1 to approve it during Thursday’s council meeting.

The city’s legal department said the agreement is perfectly acceptable under Idaho law.

Chase said there are several water and land use issues the city is dealing with that need to be wrapped up quickly, and he saw this agreement as a way to help the city get through those issues while saving Pocatello some money.

“I’m not making a lot of money on it,” he said. “In my opinion, the city needs to close these deals in the next year.”

Chase said the agreement with the city is the smallest consulting contract he has, and the $1,500 per month charge would basically help him recover his costs.

“I think it’s something that needs to be done for the city and I almost feel there’s an obligation there,” he said during the study session. “At one time I thought, ‘Should I do this for free?’ and my wife kind of put the kibosh to that.”

Chase said he doesn’t view the agreement as a long-term contract and if the city can work through those issues earlier than planned, the contract can be canceled.

“The water issues we are dealing with are very complex,” he said. “I think we could do some things that would help the city save some money.”

Chase said the contract will be limited to a handful of critical issues, and he has told new Mayor Brian Blad that he can call him any time for assistance with other issues, such as economic development.

“We’ve invested a lot of money in these endeavors and we need to be able to finish these up, and I think Roger’s experience ... will help us finish them,” said Councilman Roger Bray.

Councilman Gary Moore said he believes the city would benefit by utilizing the experience of Chase, who’s well known for the enormous number of contacts he has at the local, state and national level.

The council and mayor can determine if the contract has been beneficial to the city and can always rethink it, Moore said. “But I have a lot of confidence in Roger’s ability, particularly on water issues,” he added.

Councilman Brian Underwood said Pocatello spends a large amount of money on water issues, including for litigation and engineering, and he believes the city can save some money by employing Chase’s 20-plus years of expertise in that field.

“We’re paying 25, 30 grand a month for this stuff,” he said. “I think (this) can work for all of us, financially as well as practically.”

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the city and I’m pleased you’re willing to do that for such a small fee as a consultant,” Council president Eva Nye told Chase.

Councilman Ron Frasure, who voted in favor of the agreement, said during the study session that he had some reservations with the contract and wanted to see more specific details of what exactly Chase would be working on. Those specifics are currently being negotiated by the city’s legal department.

January 26, 2010

The economy has derailed several major construction projects lately that were at one time considered sure things by many within the community.

Fortunately, the largest construction project in Bannock County’s history is on track. In fact, officials report
construction of Portneuf Medical Center’s $150 million consolidated facility is ahead.

The hospital project was once stalled but is coming to fruition thanks to a joint venture reached between the
Portneuf Health Care Foundation and LHP Hospital Group. LHP has furnished the capital needed to resume
construction. The final beam of the hospital’s steel frame was hoisted into place on Wednesday. PMC Chief
Executive Officer Norm Stephens says the project is on pace for a midsummer 2011 completion .

The project is roughly two weeks ahead of schedule thanks to breaks in the weather and easy access to steel from a Southeast Idaho contractor, Stephens said.

It couldn’t have come at a better time for the community. It’s like having our own personal economic stimulus
package. Stephens said $21 million has already been spent. The community will continue reaping the benefits of the construction jobs and the multiplier effect associated with the investment while the economy recovers.
When the project is completed, it’s likely that the area’s economy will be on much more solid footing, and we’ll have a top-notch medical facility that should provide a true regional draw among patients and will attract the best physicians in the country. Good hospitals draw good businesses and residents.
December 17, 2009

Berkeley, CA, and Pocatello, ID, December 7, 2009 – Nordic Windpower announced today that the first three of its two-bladed, wind turbines, destined for community and distributed wind energy projects in North and South America, have begun their journey to Rocha, Uruguay. Nordic Windpower marked the
event with a ceremony at its Pocatello, Idaho facility today, attended by state and local dignitaries. The company plans to deliver 16 more N1000 wind turbines to
community wind projects as well as a school system, a municipal utility and a military base beginning in early 2010. The company is presently firming up the
rest of its 2010 order-book. In July 2009, the company was the only wind power firm to be awarded a Loan Guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The N1000 turbines, 1 MW each, were purchased by Nuevo Manantial S.A. as part of the 13 MW Nuevo Manantial Wind Farm located in Paraje Ojos de Agua, Uruguay. The project will reduce GHG emissions by displacing fossil-fuel based
electricity generation in the connected system of the Uruguayan utility, UTE.

“Nordic Windpower has emerged as the only wind turbine manufacturing, sales and service company purely focused on the community and distributed wind energy sector. We have earned the trust of some of the most innovative wind
energy developers worldwide as our initial customers,” said Tom Carbone, CEO of Nordic Windpower. “We are grateful to have attracted an experienced and
capable team, solid order-book, and supportive investors which together enable us to serve our customers with wind energy solutions that are affordable, reliable
and simple to install and operate. We are very pleased to be working with a company as prominent as Nuevo Manantial as one of our first customers”.

About Nordic Windpower

Nordic Windpower designs, manufactures and sells innovative, two-bladed utilityscale wind turbines for community wind and utility markets worldwide. The
company’s N1000 turbine has the lowest installed cost of any similarly sized turbine on the market, combined with high reliability. Nordic Windpower’s
patented, flexible teeter hub significantly extends mechanical life and lowers the cost of maintenance. With headquarters in Berkeley, CA, and a technology office
in Bristol, UK, Nordic Windpower operates an assembly plant in Pocatello, Idaho.

Visit www.nordicwindpower.com, or contact info@nordicwindpower.com, toll-free at (888) 322-2080 or (510) 665-9463 in Berkeley, CA.

Media contact: Pacific Communications Group, 415.235.1230,
Martha@greenpacificpr.com

October 10, 2009
POCATELLO — For a fleeting moment, it seemed the Idaho economy was showing signs of life when the state sales tax figures came in much higher than expected for the month of August. Unfortunately, the experts soon surmised the growth couldn’t be sustained, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter told Pocatello business leaders during a Friday morning economic address hosted at the Red Lion Hotel. The economists attributed the extra sales tax revenue to the federal Cash for Clunkers program, which provided incentives for buying new cars and scrapping inefficient, older models. That program has ended. Sure enough, September’s numbers were back in the cellar. “It’s a pretty dire picture, and it foretells we’re going to have similar problems this year without a stimulus package we had in the last legislative session,” Otter said.

While the stimulus bill helped get Idaho’s economy through tough times, Otter said it was also the reason why the state’s last legislative session lasted 120 days, which was the second longest session in Idaho history. The stimulus bill provided Idaho with $1.24 billion, equal to about half of the state’s total budget. The state had discretion on how to spend $45 million of the total. Otter said he asked for projects to be submitted for the discretionary money; within the course of three weeks, projects totaling $5 billion were requested. Priority was given to projects that did not expand government and to those projects   that could support previous unfunded mandates. “It was problematic. It took a lot of negotiating. It took a lot of meetings. We did get it worked out miraculously within 117 days,” Otter said, adding he makes no apology for the long session. To help the state forge ahead without the luxury of unexpected dollars from the federal government, Otter said he’s implementing a plan to bolster production within Idaho’s industries.

About a month ago during a business summit, Otter said he began asking business officials the following questions: How the state could help them get their production lines back to capacity? How could the state help them develop the next generation of products? How could the state help them expand? He said he’s also working to grow the state’s economy through the Top to Top program — in essence, it involves meeting with business leaders and informing them about Idaho’s numerous resources.

Two weeks ago, Otter hosted an innovation summit with the purpose of developing ways to make Idaho products better and cheaper in order to make them more competitive in the global marketplace. Otter said Idaho businesses make $4 billion in annual international sales today, and he believes that number can be grown. Whilecutting-edgeinnovations are made routinely on college campuses, Otter said it’s been difficult to move patentable products from a campus to the marketplace. He said legislation is needed to let universities, students and professors participate in ownership, royalties and income when innovations are made at Idaho universities in order to get ideas into production faster. ISU President Arthur Vailas said he’s met with Otter regarding the issue, and he noted such legislation would be particularly useful in moving technology developed at ISU involving medical isotopes. Otter has seen recessions in the past and faced a $17 million deficit when he took the oath as lieutenant governor in 1986. Despite the economic challenges facing the state, Otter noted there’s also reason for optimism. “The best helping hand we can ask for is right at the end of our sleeve and then our neighbor’s sleeve,” he said.

October 7, 2009
AMERICAN FALLS — The Power County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use application for a proposed 22,000-acre wind farm after a public hearing Tuesday evening. More than 50 people attended the meeting regarding the wind farm, which is to be located between American Falls and Rockland. The commission heard from representatives of Ridgeline Energy who addressed the project specifics. The proposal calls for up to 66 turbines to be installed on private land, along with roads and other necessities for construction and maintenance. The 1.8 megawatt towers will have a maximum height of 475 feet.

Ridgeline Energy Project Manager Jay Williams said the current plans call for the transmission lines to parallel existing lines that follow the Rockland Highway north to the substation near American Falls. Williams noted that the company does not yet have agreements on the routing with all the landowners. Besides permanent jobs and working with local suppliers, Williams said the economic benefits will include tax revenues for the county of $500,000 to $700,000 annually. “We’re enthusiastic about this project,” Williams said before turning the meeting over to questions and comments from the public.

The audience was divided as to the merits of the wind farm. “I don’t see how wind turbines can be compatible with private residences,” said Rayma Cates, who said she is afraid her home’s value will decrease with the erection of the turbines. Cates spoke at length about visual blight and other nuisance that the windmills might bring,  indicating the current siting of some of the turbines will be within a half-mile of her home. “If you’re going to be closer than a mile and a half, you ought to think about compensating me,” she said. Other speakers, some of whom have agreements with Ridgeline to site the towers on their land, expressed support for the project and the revenue it will bring to county coffers. “Do we need $700,000 in tax revenue,” said Lanny Permann. “I believe we do in Power County.” Kryst Krein concurred, noting $500,000 to $700,000 a year “is a lot of money.” Krein, who serves on the library board, said the library budget has been “feeling the pinch” of declining county revenues. Kenneth Koompin made a pitch for the project’s environmental worth. “This is a clean, renewable resource,” he said. “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Jim Mende, a representative of the Idaho Fish and Game Department, said he has been pleased with Ridgeline’s attention to details and willingness to prevent any problems with the siting of the windmills. “We can be assured that (working together), we can definitely minimize impacts,” Mende said.

Besides their visual impact, concerns were expressed about safety, noise and possible harm to wildlife, particularly birds. The last public speaker, Gary Seifert, who is employed at the Idaho National Laboratory, recounted how much of the bad image that windmills have was generated years ago by sites which employed the flawed technology of the day. “The industry has learned a lot in the last 30 years,” he said. The commission voted unanimously to approve the special use permit, with the requirement that Ridgeline have a demolition bond in place within three years. It must also resolve all issues with right-of-way of the transmission lines. Williams told the commission that placement of the turbines could start as soon as sometime next year.